Author's Note: Heads up for grooming/abusive behavior in this chapter.

The beverage was very cold; Cliff had learned throughout the past couple of months that Nadine had a tendency to put more ice than water in her drinking glasses, and he found himself having to sip carefully in order to avoid a headache.

Nadine took a seat beside him, sipping from her glass. Her eyes flicked toward the fenced in yard before moving back toward her companion. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "You and Sandy have good chemistry," Nadine commented, giving him a smile. "I've been working on the commands you gave me."

Her praise reminded him of his mother and Cliff's heart swelled. Nadine no longer flinched when Sandy barked, and it was obvious to see that their hard work was paying off. The young man saw her on more than a few occasions tossing a ball to Sandy to play; her reactions were worlds away from when Cliff had first met the both of them.

She set down her drink and moved her hand onto his thigh. This kind of touch was unfamiliar; Cliff found himself shifting in his seat awkwardly. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Look at how happy Sandy looks," she interjected with a grin, giving his leg a pat.

Cliff beamed as he looked back over at the happily panting dog. It was true that Sandy seemed to have mellowed out, much like his owner. The golden retriever reminded him of the packs of canines the hunters at Akiyama took along on trips. "We had a lot of hunting dogs back at… h-home…" His voice cracked as a lump formed in his throat. He averted his eyes, taking another sip of water so he didn't have to speak.

"It's obvious you miss it," she commented gently. She gave him a sad smile. "Sometimes it's hard to get started again… Living, I mean. You spend so much of your life growing used to someone being there and then one day they're j-just..." Nadine's voice cracked as she blinked her misty eyes.

He couldn't remember the last thing his father had said to him.

His mother's last words to him had been ingrained into his mind.

"… gone," Cliff finished for her.

She scrunched up her face as a couple of tears dropped out of her eyes. She gave him a slight nod, removing her hands from him. "Bernard was… He was my everything." She chuckled as she sniffled, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. Her smile was anything but happy. "I know that sounds trite and sappy, but it's really true. He pulled me out of a dark place and I… I've… I've really struggled to stay afloat since he's been gone." Her voice quavered. She turned toward Cliff. "But you've been so… strong. You've been on your own with Cain for so long now."

A breeze blew through the trees. The young man gulped and looked up at the rustling leaves. The green foliage was flecked with the first hints of gold and orange; Nadine was right – it would be winter before they both knew it. He thought of the last cold season with a shiver that went beyond a chill.

Would this time of year always remind him of his departures from Akiyama?

The first snowflakes had sparked an immense pain in his heart, and he found that in order to keep Cain and himself alive, he had to turn off his emotions. The season was a blur to him if he was perfectly honest, and the thought of it coming up once more wasn't a welcome one.

Do I even have enough in me to do it again?

He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the tears streaming down Nadine's cheeks. "H-how? How do you cope?" She looked up at him imploringly.

The next breeze that blew past felt unseasonably cold. Cliff blinked, staring blankly up at the leaves. "I… I honestly don't know."

The image was still fresh in her mind – Karen had looked through the photograph album the night before.

It's still weird to think of him as my uncle…

Sasha never spoke much of her younger brother, Jake. He was a scrawny kid with wide eyes, an unkempt mess of brown hair, and skin decorated with bandages from the bumps and scrapes he got from playing in the woods.

An absolute dead-ringer for Cliff, though… I'm so stupid for not seeing the resemblance before…

Jeff and Sasha had given Karen space after Cliff's admission to the hospital, but there was an uncomfortable tension in the room whenever the din of everyday sounds in the supermarket died down. Sasha's outburst at the horse races came back to mind and Karen's questions about her family began to resurface.

Manna had come to the store the day before, distraught and anxious over her employee's hospitalization. Karen couldn't help but feel that her mother's steady words to her friend were a little too calm.

Did Mom and her sister really have that bad of a falling out? She doesn't feel bad about Cliff, especially after learning he's her nephew?

She supposed it didn't help to dwell on such thoughts; it wasn't as if they had been helpful in the past. The young woman let out a soft sigh as she arranged a new stock of mayonnaise bottles on the shelf. Rick hadn't said much when he stopped by to bring them, and she wasn't sure if she liked that or not. She signed the delivery slip and headed back into the shop, frustrated that she wondered if his eyes had followed her as she left.

"I understand he had hypothermia from being out in the cold like that." Jeff's voice was sympathetic at the cash register.

Her ears perked up as she peered around the shelf.

"He's coming along." Carter's mild voice was carefully optimistic. "We're trying to avoid too much excitement, but he was asking for Claire."

And me, too, right?!

Karen's voice caught in her throat as she gripped the edge of the shelf.

Carter gave Jeff a serene smile as he handed the shopkeeper his money. "Naturally, she hurried to the clinic as quickly as she could." He paused, looking pensive for a moment before giving Jeff a grin. "It was nice seeing her smile like that. I know she's been waiting for good news."

Ever since she had known Cliff, he had opened up and flourished in Claire's company. Heart lifting, Karen felt a smile curl at her lips as she turned back toward the shelf.

It can only get better…

He woke up, blinking his tired eyes. He let out a yawn and stretched his arms. As his gaze caught the sunset peeking between the curtains, his eyes widened and he bolted out of bed. How long had he been sleeping? He nearly toppled over a glass of water, and the ice cubes rattled in it loudly. Smoothing down the wrinkles on his undershirt, he padded into the kitchen.

"I was wondering when you were going to get up," Nadine chuckled, stirring a pot on the stove. "It's been ready for a while now."

A pleasant smell tickled Cliff's nostrils that was not unlike the cream soups his mother would make on brisk fall nights. It made his heart ache a bit, but seeing Nadine's bubbly demeanor eased his pain a little. Rubbing his eyes, he walked over to the stove to peer into the pot.

"You rest well?" She gave his shoulder a gentle rub, grinning at his disheveled ponytail.

He gave a nod. "Thank you for letting me take a nap here."

"Think nothing of it! That guest room never gets used anyway." She grinned and gave the pot a quick a quick peek before removing her apron. "Take a seat."

"Can I help in any way?" Cliff picked up the ladle sitting on the stove and began to stir the pot. His friend was very accommodating, but he didn't want to take advantage of her kindness.

She put a hand at his waist and he blinked in surprise when the other landed on his hip. Nadine let out a playful chuckle as she scooted him away from the food. "I think you've already helped enough for today." Her smile turned warm as she gestured toward the already set table.

Bewildered, he handed her back the ladle and plopped down in the chair. He murmured a quiet thanks as she provided them with the steaming bowls and glasses of ice water. "It smells amazing."

"Chowder. I added the bluegill you caught earlier, and I added some oysters, too."

He tried a bite and nodded approvingly before shoveling more in. Perhaps it was the delicious food, or maybe it was that he had been hungry for such a long time before stopping in this town. For the first time in a long time, he felt comfortable.

A small smile played at her mouth as Nadine watched him eat. She rested her elbow on the table, resting her cheek in her hand. "I'm glad you're here to help around the house and winterize it. It works out for you, too. I doubt anywhere around is really hiring."

Cliff's face fell; he was really starting to enjoy this area. "You don't think so? I mean, I could-"

"No!" she interrupted him overenthusiastically, causing him to jump in his seat a bit. Nadine responded to his surprise with a nervous chuckle, sitting up straight. "Sorry, I mean I don't want you to get your hopes up. This town can take a while to warm up to newcomers. Besides, I have plenty of work to keep you busy."

He gave her an unsure look.

She threw him a grin. "Trust me! There's wood to be chopped, and I need some repairs done before the weather gets bad. I'm too afraid to climb up on that roof to repair it. I could use a steady supply of meat in the winter, too…" Her voice trailed off as she gave him a sad smile. "There are so many jobs Bernard was going to work on that I don't know how to do… You seem pretty handy, and well… It's… nice to cook for someone again."

You can be useful to someone, Cliff told himself. He looked up at her with sincere eyes, the corners of his lips turning upward. "And it's nice to have someone to share my catches with."

The chill in his heart from leaving Akiyama hadn't completely gone away, but as he watched Nadine turn to her bowl, he realized that the world didn't seem quite as dark anymore. Perhaps with a steady income, he could really find a new start here.

New friends…

"This is very good."

She gave him a smirk. "I should say so – you have chowder on your chin, you silly boy."

Her words reminded him of his mother. A bittersweet smile worked its way onto Cliff's face despite the lump forming in his throat. He wiped his mouth, a smile breaking across it.

New family.

He's going to know I've opened and read it by now…

Claire sat cross-legged on her bed, fighting back the frown that was overtaking her entire face. The envelope Cliff's aunt had dropped off was gaping at the opening, obviously handled more than a few times over the past couple of days. Maria's pristine handwriting swam in front of Claire as her eyes filled with tears.

I know I'm just crying for myself at this point…

She tried her best to recall Cliff's features as he looked at the photograph of his family earlier that day at the hospital. The overall emotion he had shown was mixed, but there was no doubt that he held that particular brand of longing he reserved for his sister, Ivy.

If he knew where she was, he'd probably fly to her in a heartbeat. What reason would he have to come back? They'd probably move to Flowerbud to be closer to their aunt and uncle.

The thought hurts but… it also makes me happy?

She placed a hand over her heart as her eyes scanned the letter for what felt like the millionth time.

Ivy's actively looking for him. Who am I to keep them apart? Him moving away to be with her wouldn't necessarily be the end of our relationship… but…

He needs to know, and he needs to know soon. I could be preventing him from finding true happiness…

Is he going to be angry that I've kept this from him?

An abrupt knock at the door startled Claire from her thoughts. She blinked as she came back to reality, two large tears falling out of her eyes and narrowly missing the letter in her hands.

"One m-moment!" Claire stammered as she wiped her eyes and stashed away the letter.

She opened the door to a Karen with a twitchy, pasted-on smile.

"Hey."

"H-hello." Claire allowed her friend inside.

The silence was deafening. Karen didn't bother with removing her coat; she tucked her hands in her pockets and focused on the knotted wood walls.

Why isn't she saying anything?

The brunette awkwardly cleared her throat. "I heard that you got to see Cliff today?" She made it sound like a question.

Claire gave a single nod, wringing her fingers. "Yeah… He's speaking again."

Karen wasn't expecting a sting of jealousy to hit her as hard as it did, seeing her friend smile slightly. "Ah, I'm glad."

More silence.

"So… does he remember passing out in the square?" Karen found it hard to hide the worry and impatience on her face.

Claire wracked her mind as she recalled their conversation earlier. They hadn't really talked about much at all when she really thought about it, but at the same time, so much had been said. Claire frowned. "He… didn't really say anything about that."

"Did he say what had him so stressed out?"

She shook her head. "I didn't really want to press him for answers." A quick glance at her friend made her realize this answer wasn't good enough. "He said the frostbite was minor…"

"Why would he go out in the cold like that? I know he knows better!" Karen couldn't stand it anymore. "Maybe he was going to do something or had something on his mind. He was upset when they admitted him, right?"

Claire's heart pounded loudly as she thought of the photograph. Was it possible to talk about the photo and the letter separately? "I… well…" Gulping, her eyes moved toward the floorboards. "I know he's had his family on his mind," she stated carefully.

"Well, he has a family member right here." Karen's voice was gentle. "I hope he's not mad at my mom…"

"I think he's just got a lot going on right now…"

Karen let out a sigh. "No kidding…" She tucked her hands in her pockets and her shoulders drooped. "I just wish I could be there for him, you know?"

Claire gave a nod in response, her shoulders slouching as her eyes turned toward the envelope sitting on her nightstand. "I wonder… if we'd even be enough, though… you and me…"

A pair of green eyes blinked, nonplussed. "What are you talking about?"

Claire let out a sigh as she bit her lip.

He's going to leave…

But maybe he'll come to visit sometimes…

Claire gulped.

Why would he? I can't make him choose between us and his family, anyway. He's going to want to start a new life with them. I'm just being selfish…

He'll probably leave me anyway, especially after keeping this that letter from him…

"I've already said too much."

Karen studied her friend's expression, but it was unreadable. "You know something that I don't…"

Claire turned away.

I need to talk to him about it first. I owe him that.

"Claire… what's going on?"

She shook her blonde head, frustrated that a couple of tears fell out of her eyes. Karen gripped her shoulders, turning her around. "Talk to me."

She couldn't meet those intense eyes. Claire's posture slumped. "I-I… I need to talk to Cliff first."

Karen frowned. "Anything you tell him, you can tell me. We can help him together."

Claire's gaze refused to meet hers. "I-I… I can't."

Karen's eyes fell on the pendant that rested on her friend's chest. "I see…" She felt a pang of pain – the necklace that Rick had purchased for her birthday had been stashed away in a box without the chance of being worn much. She longed to hold her close, to cry, to hug. Instead, she took a step back. "After all… I should be used to it by now. I never was anyone's first choice, was I?"

Claire's eyes widened in shock at her friend's words and the firm shove she gave her before stifling a sob and whirling on her heel, flying out the door behind a sheet of brown hair.

Tears blurred her vision as she pulled her eyes from the envelope that was once again beckoning her.

"I-I'm not… anyone's first choice, either," she whispered, her heart sinking.

Her practiced hands worked at his sore muscles. Cliff allowed himself to relax his eyes, letting out a small sigh.

"I'm glad you didn't hurt yourself," Nadine's voice was soothing as she rubbed his shoulders. "There's no sense pushing yourself beyond your limits, Bernar-, uh, Cliff. You work too hard."

Her gentle rubbing had already put him into a haze. He thought of his mother's mild chiding as he tried to avoid rolling his eyes. "I know, but winter's coming soon…"

She tucked a loose strand of brown hair behind his ear as a smirk played at her mouth. She leaned in close, her lips grazing his ear. "Just relax."

He squirmed a bit at the contact but settled in as she pulled away. She worked at the knots on this shoulders and back and it wasn't long before Cliff's eyelids felt heavy. He nodded his head forward, the tightness in his muscles melting away.

A smile crept across her lips. "I do appreciate the help, though. There was no way I would have been able to chop all that firewood myself. How about… I return the favor and take care of you now?" She let out an airy chuckle, her warm breath tickling him.

His posture stiffened as a chill ran down his spine. "Wh-what?" He blinked in confusion.

Her hands worked across his bare chest, her fingers running along his skin. Her lips brushed across his neck. "You really are such a silly boy…"

She had been nothing but kind to him, but a sickening feeling hit the pit of his stomach. Instead of giving him the warm glow he was used to, this kind of touch made his skin crawl. He moved to pull away, but her arms held him tight. There was a desperation to her shaking hands as she clung to him that made him freeze in place.

"Where do you think you're going?" There was a harsh, commanding tone clumsily disguised by the forced playfulness in her voice. She gave his bare shoulder a kiss. One quickly turned to two, and then three as her lips traveled across his skin. "Stay. Stay here with me."

His heart began to pound as he gulped. Panic settled in as he struggled to think of a polite response. He had already learned the hard way the consequences of disobeying his elders back in Akiyama. His confidence sank at her touch, his voice barely above a whisper.

It's not as if she's being mean… but…

"I'm… I-I just… I don't f-feel…" His mouth was very dry as he uncomfortably pulled away.

"Why don't you hold that thought?" Her words were still friendly, flirty. She caught him by the wrist, her grip startlingly tight. "Don't go. I can give you anything you want."

He clumsily backed into the wall, causing the shelves to rattle. "Nadine… I like your company, but… I…"

"It's understandable to be a little shy," she replied softly. She wrapped his hair around her hand possessively, pulling it. "Come now, be a good boy and sit back down." Her voice lost its humor as she moved in closer, her expression serious.

He fought his instinct to bolt as he felt her grip tighten.

Nadine wasn't his mother, nor could she replace her.

It didn't look like she was a friend, either.

His heart broke as his blue eyes focused on her brown ones. He didn't recognize the odd gleam in them as she leaned in closer toward him.

"N-no..." His words cracked, barely audible. The words didn't sound like his own. He cleared his throat, finding his voice. "I don't want to."

Her eyebrows knitted and she frowned at him, twisting the hair in her hand as she pulled it tight. "I don't recall asking you if you wanted to or not. You were nothing when I gave you a job. Are you really stupid enough to think other people will be so kind and generous?" Her words were sharp and he flinched at them, cowering a bit despite their difference in height. "Offering a stranger in town steady work? Company, food, an allowance to buy things… Do you really think I was just going to give you that without something in exchange?"

He said nothing, blinking in surprise that someone he had seen as a mother figure could have such a shift in her demeanor.

He suddenly became aware of the way her hands had started to linger in recent times – a hand at his waist, and more recently traveling down to his hips as she brushed behind him in the small kitchen. Upon awakening after napping, he'd find half-empty glasses of ice water sitting on the night stand, the fresh fingerprints still dripping with condensation.

He felt as if his stomach dropped out of his body and he gave an involuntary shiver.

Perhaps the change wasn't as sudden as he first thought.

This was never about finding a new start for her… She never really cared…

She took a step toward the bed, maintaining her grip. When he didn't move, she jerked her arm a bit, giving his hair a jarring yank. He stumbled forward a bit, stars blinking around him from the pain. "Sit down, and don't be an idiot." There was a tone of annoyance in her voice. "Why are you making this so difficult?"

… She just wanted someone to control.

Her gaze locked onto his and her grip loosened, her eyes widening as she snapped out of her trance. Her hand drifted to his shoulder, her other hand resting on his bare chest.

"Cliff… sweetheart… I... I didn't mean that. I'm sorry." Her words were smooth and honeyed as she leaned in toward him. "It's only that you're making this harder than it has to be… I was just saying that I'm the only one you can trust to take care of you. You can't count on anyone out there. You and me – we're different than the rest of them."

Maybe I'm being too harsh… She is going through a lot, after all…

"D-different?" Cliff searched her expression. He wanted to believe her, but he was afraid to.

"Yeah," she replied, brushing her cheek against his. "You're special."

He thought of the teenage boys snickering at him back in Akiyama. He could still see the horrified faces of his mother and Elder Zinnia as he tossed the pendant to the ground, fleeing from the square amid hushed gasps and gossip.

Special…

Maybe it is true – they just didn't understand…

"You're strong. You've done so much on your own. I… I can't be like that. I need someone, and so do you. You need someone who can show you… tenderness."

Nadine's lips were back on his shoulder and he snapped back to reality, his blood running cold. He blinked rapidly, fighting his urge to panic.

"Wh-why aren't you content with the way our relationship was before?"

She buried her face in the crook of his neck, twisting his ponytail. He could feel her body twitching. "You want to leave. Y-you can't. You just can't. I can't be all alone again…"

There was sadness to her tone, but there was a hint of something else that terrified him. He gulped. "Y-you didn't answer my question. I could've been your friend, and you could've been mine."

Nadine lost her patience. "Are you really that naïve or are you just stupid?" she spat. She looked down at the ground, the anger dissolving from her face and her eyes welling with tears. "It gets lonely here… This large bed feels so empty and cold... Is it really so bad to go after the things I want?"

So I'm just a 'thing'…

His mind worked rapidly.

If I leave now, Cain and I can be a good five miles away by nightfall. I have some smoked fish in my pack – I can't waste time here to buy supplies…

West – Ray said Ivy had gone west…

He had found his escape as she let go of his hair to bury her face in her hands. Leaving his shirt sitting on the table, he flew to the door. His hand rested on the doorknob and he froze at her words.

"Cliff…" Her voice cracked, looking back up at him with a tearstained face. "D-Don't. You have to understand. I have no one." Nadine reached a trembling hand out to him.

Just keep going west and don't look back; you can't afford to.

His gaze hardened as he blinked the tears out of the corners of his eyes, turning the doorknob. He choked back on the lump that was forming in his throat. "That makes both of us, then."

Claire… I don't get it…

Is it because he's yours now?

I just wanted to help – he's my friend, too…

The alcohol left a pleasant warmth down her throat and into her stomach. Karen swirled the ice in her glass, her tresses falling into her eyes as she leaned on the bar counter.

"The usual, please."

Although he took a seat on the opposite side of the bar, Rick's voice brought back a lot of memories. Listening to rants about Popuri along with Rod's lack of parenting skills – his voice often cracked and his eyes got misty, but after he let everything out, he was willing to sing along with the jukebox with her and order another round for the two of them.

He did have a decent singing voice; he was high for a tenor, but it suited him and when he was a little tipsy, he sang with more passion.

She'd prod about his achievements on the poultry ranch and he'd oblige in telling her the details with a flushed face as he looked into his drink. For someone who outwardly seemed so proud of what he did for a living, he was often reluctant to brag around her unless he was drunk.

Karen looked up from the counter and her heart stopped when she noticed Rick's eyes locked onto hers.

She could still remember the song that was playing at the midsummer dance when he placed his hand on hers and looked into her eyes.

"Karen, I've waited too long to say this: I love you. I've loved you for years, but I've been afraid to tell you. We've always been good friends, but I want us to be more."

They were sitting at this very bar when he said that. It felt like a lifetime ago.

Are we different people than we were back then?

She recalled the gentle way he held her as they sat on the pier at the fireworks festival. His eyes and cheeks glowed more than the sky that night as their lips met time and time again, their hands shyly wandering a bit in the dark.

Things hadn't always been that way. On more than one occasion, she walked toward his family's house, singing while twirling a picnic basket in her hands. The result was always the same – her boyfriend was knee-deep in chicken manure and feathers and was too distracted to give her more than a simple nod in greeting before disappearing into the coop once more. Her heart sunk as she dragged her feet back home, the song gone from her lips.

It was always about work with him, though… Is there really anything left to say to him?

The night of their final date came to mind.

They were standing outside of her house and the distance between them had become more noticeable than ever. Her hand gravitated over her heart as he waited for her to speak.

"… It's always felt one-sided… You just don't care about being romantic and, well… I… I think I deserve better."

Karen braced herself for his response. She wasn't expecting silence.

She snapped back to reality and felt a lump form in her throat and a pain stab at her breast as she tore her eyes away from him. She chugged the rest of her drink, relishing in the burning sensation that followed.

Are things going to be awkward between me and Claire now, too?

"Wow, you can really put them away, huh?" An unfamiliar chuckle startled her as a young man approached the bar.

Karen's eyes traveled over him. His heavy eyebrows were set in a friendly position, and a playful smile was on his lips. His words didn't seem judgmental, but rather, impressed.

She pushed the worries from her mind as a smirk played at her mouth – a distraction was more than welcome. "You don't know the half of it, bucko."

His laugh was refreshing. "Well, you look like you could make a good recommendation for something cold." The young man's voice had an unfamiliar lilt as he glanced down at the menu. She watched his brown eyes scan the specials. He was good-looking, approachable. "Is it alright if I take a seat here?"

She could feel the cold stare from Rick on the far side of the bar. It was not unlike the looks he had given Kai in the past.

I thought we've changed… And yet…

You're as immature as ever.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Sure. They have a good selection of dark beers right now."

He gave her a grin. "I'm up for trying anything once."

The hour grew late as Karen slammed down her empty beer stein with a cackle. "I told you I could beat you!"

Kana took one last chug, wiping the froth from his mouth, laughing. "Guess I shouldn't have underestimated you."

She couldn't help but feel pretty proud of herself – it had been quite a while since she got into a drinking contest, and she was pleased to see that she could still win reliably. "I thought you'd be pretty experienced in betting, considering your profession."

She was given a grin in response. "The only kind of betting I do is on myself, and that's hardly legal in the horse racing circuit."

Karen felt a giddy rush at the notion of impressing someone. Perhaps her iron liver wasn't the best thing to be proud of, but she was willing to take any kind of praise that evening. "I must've really surprised you then," she replied, beaming.

Kana gave a nod. "And who doesn't like surprises?"

Karen considered this for a moment, trying to block out recent crises. "I guess I don't mind as long as they're pleasant ones."

The young man saw the droop in her smile and gave her a wink, turning toward Doug. "Next round's on me."

"What would you like?" Doug was eager to interact with a source of positivity – the inn had grown quite gloomy as of late.

Kana beamed. "Why don't you surprise us?"

Doug grinned under his mustache and went to mixing cocktails.

Karen turned toward her companion, giving him a curious look. "So you said you only bet on yourself… Does that mean you don't trust anyone?"

She was met with a laugh and the shake of the head. "I believe in making my own luck. If you want to see a change in your life, you gotta make it yourself."

Karen rested her chin in her hand, attempting to block out a particularly loud sigh from Rick. Doug returned with two colorful drinks and a proud smile.

"A Fall Breeze and The Bee's Knees."

Kana's thick eyebrows perked up. "Fall Breeze?"

Karen gave an emphatic nod, pushing the cocktail toward him. "It's a special drink Doug makes with the local wine made next door. You'll love it! Thanks for the drinks!"

"Yeah, thanks, Doug! Cheers!"

The bartender gave them a grin and went back to putting the bottles away behind the counter, giving a nod to his daughter as she emerged from the kitchen.

"You're not going to chug this one, are you?" Kana laughed, watching Karen sip from her honey cocktail.

Karen swung her feet, looking into the bottom of her glass. "This one is for savoring." Her cheeks glowed as she savored the gin, honey, and lemon mixture.

This is exactly what I needed…

"Ah, this is awesome…" Kana took another careful sip and gently leaned in to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "I can tell this place is special. Fall Breeze… it's really good."

She nodded again, looking at the bright color of his fruity cocktail. "It's been a while since I've had it." A smirk played at her mouth as her eyes lingered on his lips. "I've almost forgotten what it tastes like…"

He moved in closer. "Oh, yeah?"

She gave a drunken nod, a giggle escaping from her. "Yeah."

Karen heard a familiar scoff from behind her. She pulled Kana in by the neckline of his shirt. "Can I try some?"

His chuckle was airy as his lips met hers halfway. She heard a pint glass slam down on the other side of the counter and pulled Kana closer, exploring his mouth with her tongue and weaving her fingers into his hair.

They parted and he looked at her with surprised eyes. "I guess I was right… This place is pretty special." His cheeks blushed heavily as he took another sip from his drink.

"It's one of my favorite hangouts," Karen replied with a coy smile.

Ann cleared her throat quietly, feigning surprise. "Ah, Karen, there you are. I was hoping I'd see you here tonight. Can you help me with something in the back?"

The brunette felt a mild wave of irritation that she was being pulled from her new friend, but she forced a small smile on her face. "Sure. See you in a bit, Kana."

He gave her a friendly wave as she disappeared behind the kitchen doors with the waitress.

Ann pulled Karen by the wrist and closed the door to her bedroom behind them. "What do you think you're doing out there?"

Karen blinked, her mind floating. "Just having a little fun. What's wrong with that?"

Her friend frowned, gesturing for her to take a seat on the bed. "This… this isn't like you." Her eyes moved back toward her bedroom door. "Did you know that guy?"

Karen shrugged. "It was just a kiss…"

I learned from Rick that it doesn't have to mean anything…

Ann gave a disapproving frown. "I just don't want you to do anything you're going to regret."

Karen thought of the softness of Kana's hair, the way his mouth tasted. He smelled of sweat and animal feed.

It almost reminds me of…

Karen shook her head, giving Ann an impatient scoff in response. "I don't like your impression of your dad. Besides, Kana's not a bad guy… He's running his family's shop while his father's working on raising a rare breed of horse. He's holding down the fort…"

She was given a knowing look. "What is this really about?"

A vivid memory of the jealousy on Rick's face flashed in her mind before she shook her head. She thought of Claire wringing her hands, unable to meet her eyes.

"Rick was pissing me off just by being there, and… Claire is, well…" Karen shook her head once more in frustration. "She knows something about Cliff and she's not talking. I told her we could help him together, but she seems so intent on doing it herself… Like she has to be his rescuer or something…"

Ann gave an uncomfortable frown. She decided to turn her attention toward the issue with Claire. "It's not like you two not to agree on something, but... she was upset that she couldn't be more help," she admitted.

"As if we are not feeling the same thing!" Karen crossed her arms across her chest.

"That's true…" Ann's eyes moved toward the floor. "But, we also need to remember their relationship..." She sighed quietly, feeling a shameful wave of jealousy.

"She's not the only one who cares about him," Karen sighed.

She was given a pointed look in reply. "You know what I mean." Ann softened her voice as she bit her lip. "We're both having trouble sharing them, I know. It's something… we're… just going to have to get used to."

A lump unexpectedly formed in Karen's throat as she gave a silent nod.

Elli pushed past the privacy curtain later that evening, pulling back the blankets on the bed. She was surprised when Cliff's eyes opened.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't wake you, did I?" With as little sleep as he was getting, she felt a little guilty for disturbing him.

He shook his head silently, and she was surprised to see him pull back the sleeve on his shirt and offer his arm to her, struggling as he did so. It wasn't as if he was blind to the tenderness and marks on his arm when he woke up from his rare short naps; they had been medicating him while he slept to avoid drama, but his cooperation was a welcome change.

Elli sheepishly took the syringe from between the folds of her skirt. "I know you don't like these, but you're doing so well." She gave him a small smile of encouragement.

His arm was still trembling a bit as he averted his eyes. Elli's eyes softened as she counted down.

"Just relax your muscles… Three… two… one." The flinch she got was much less dramatic than she was anticipating on. "There we go; just like that."

He opened his eyes and let out a soft sigh. The bags under his eyes were a little less noticeable today. Cliff glanced up at her with a slight frown and averted his eyes.

"Do you need anything?" Elli's words were gentle; she could see that he had something on his mind.

"I've been thinking a lot…" Cliff's voice was hardly audible as he looked down at the blankets. "I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me."

Elli smiled. "Think nothing of it. I'm doing my job, and I want to be able to help you."

A hint of a smile formed on Cliff's mouth. "But it's like you said before – it's time to stop running from my problems and time to face them. I… I think it's time for a new start."

All of the traveling –the new town gates, the local dialects, the unique customs…

He thought of Doug and Ann's warm smiles the day he first moved in, their cooking with love in every bite.

Kai and Gray's friendly banter as they stayed up late on summer nights, never making him feel like he wasn't part of the group – their makeshift family created by the inhabitants and owners of the inn.

He thought of Duke's playful demeanor yet careful guidance in the wine cellar, Manna's friendly chatter as they looked through the wine recipes for new ideas.

He recalled Carter's gentle patience with him and a smile for him even in his darkest times as they shared tea and biscuits in his tiny apartment.

Karen's playful chiding as they tossed rocks into the surf together.

Claire's sincerity in her eyes as she spoke of her farm and her happiness with her new life. He thought of the way her eyes lit up when she saw him pass through her farm – the joy on her face and her comfort in her own skin was a far cry from earlier that spring.

Mineral Town is home now. I can have a new start here.

He ran a few fingers through his long locks. He could still feel Nadine's sharp tugging. He thought he could trust her and start a new life with her, but…

We didn't want the same things… I wish she had just been honest with me… Instead, I just felt betrayed.

Maybe I'm doing the same to Claire by not telling her the whole truth. Why I'm here, why I can't go back home…

He swallowed the lump in his throat.

It's really time to start over.

He brushed his long hair out of his face.

No more hiding.

"Will I be able to leave tomorrow? I really need to talk to Claire."

Elli gave him a frown. "The doctor would like to monitor you for a little longer before we let you go. There are tests that we need to follow up on, and there's also the matter of your therapy with Father McKenzie. They'll be able to predict a discharge date when they can determine that you are no longer a danger to yourself and have a stable support system. As for Claire, I can fetch her for you tomorrow. I'm sure she'll be glad to see you again."

The young man's heart sunk at the prospect of staying much longer at the hospital. Still, the matter of seeing Claire was his top priority.

"Thank you. I also…" Cliff's voice trailed off.

Am I asking too much?

He saw that Elli was still watching him carefully, a wordless question on her lips. He suddenly realized how intimate his request was. His cheeks flushed with color as he twisted the bed sheets around his knuckles. "Y-you've already done so much for me, but I was wondering… that is, as long as you're comfortable doing it…"

She gave him a curious look but allowed him to finish his thought.

A new start – a real new start.

He ran his fingers through his hair. "I've never really let anyone else do it since I was a kid, but my hands aren't that steady. I was wondering if you'd be willing to cut my hair."

It's okay to let someone else help…

This is the first step to change.

She flashed him a smile. "I don't mind giving you a trim. How much do you want me to cut off?"

"A lot," he replied without hesitation.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for your patience on the long wait for this one. I struggled with it a lot, as it touched on a lot of aspects of my own life. It was therapeutic in that sense. I hope y'all are doing well with all the craziness going on in the world, and I feel a little bad that this chapter isn't happier. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Thank you all for reading. I really, sincerely appreciate your support and I wish you the best, as always.